东张西望

• Pinyin: dōng zhāng xī wàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 东 = 木 + 日 (east); 张 = 弓 + 长 (to stretch/gaze); 西 = 覀 (west); 望 = 亡 + 月 + 王 (to look into the distance)

Meaning

To look around in all directions; to gaze about furtively or curiously. Describes someone who keeps turning their head to look here and there, often suggesting distraction, nervousness, or suspicion.

Typically carries a slightly negative connotation — implying a person is not paying proper attention, is anxious, or is behaving suspiciously. Also used literally to describe someone unfamiliar with a place who looks around out of curiosity or disorientation.

Examples

1. 考试期间，监考老师发现他东张西望，立刻上前给予警告。 During the exam, the proctor saw him looking around and immediately walked over to warn him.
2. 她在陌生街道上东张西望，显然是第一次来这个地方。 She kept looking around on the unfamiliar street—clearly it was her first time there.
3. 他东张西望了好一阵，才鼓起勇气走进那家店。 He looked around for quite a while before finally working up the courage to walk into that shop.

Usage Guide

Context: behaviour, social observation, colloquial

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他进入考场后便开始东张西望，令监考人员产生了怀疑。(He started looking around in all directions after entering the exam hall, arousing the suspicion of the invigilators.)
• 初到异乡的她东张西望，对周围的一切都充满了好奇与新鲜感。(Newly arrived in a foreign land, she looked about in all directions, full of curiosity and wonder at everything around her.)

Don't Say

• 他东张西望地读书 — contradictory; 东张西望 implies being unfocused and distracted, which is incompatible with attentive reading

Origin & History

东 (east) + 张 (to gaze/stretch) + 西 (west) + 望 (to look into the distance) — looking east and west, glancing about in all directions

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal